Researcher:Hmm... well that's cool. He's done a bunch of stuff for Fordham University as well, where he (and me from the law school) are alumni.

Good for him. Money used to help education is well spent indeed.

He also has given much dinero to Fisher Houses (new window goes to real story, not glurge) and other charities. He's pretty clearly a guy who is dedicated to spreading his financial blessing around instead of getting his pool gold-plated. Good on him. Gives a little hope for humanity.

Manfred J. Hattan:Researcher: Hmm... well that's cool. He's done a bunch of stuff for Fordham University as well, where he (and me from the law school) are alumni.

Good for him. Money used to help education is well spent indeed.

He also has given much dinero to Fisher Houses (new window goes to real story, not glurge) and other charities. He's pretty clearly a guy who is dedicated to spreading his financial blessing around instead of getting his pool gold-plated. Good on him. Gives a little hope for humanity.

I agree. However, it's probably worth pointing out that he more than likely has the financial means to donate millions and get his pool gold-plated.

/gold-plating a pool is just silly//platinum holds up much better against chlorine

I don't think "he/she is well spoken" is as much of a backhanded compliment as it's portrayed to be. I mean, I don't think people said it about Colin Powell because they were surprised he could speak correctly - it's because he has a good way of putting words together. Neither of the candidates in the last election were well spoken, and I don't think Condoleeza Rice is particularly well spoken either. It's not "Oh my god a black person put together a sentence without using slang!" it's acknowledging the power of someone's rhetoric.

mofomisfit:I don't think "he/she is well spoken" is as much of a backhanded compliment as it's portrayed to be. I mean, I don't think people said it about Colin Powell because they were surprised he could speak correctly - it's because he has a good way of putting words together. Neither of the candidates in the last election were well spoken, and I don't think Condoleeza Rice is particularly well spoken either. It's not "Oh my god a black person put together a sentence without using slang!" it's acknowledging the power of someone's rhetoric.

Nevertheless, black people are very likely to get pissed off if you say it. Much like you can call any man "boy" except for a black man. And they can call each other the "N" word, but nobody else is allowed to use the word, at all. They have a separate set of rules that they're allowed to live by and everyone else needs to abide by those rules lest they be labeled a racist.

Infernal Wedgie:And so the balance in the celebrity universe is righted away from the news that Britney's little sister got knocked up.

That's a generous gift. I hope it's used for other things besides debate, too. Maybe library expansion, new computer labs, or outreach/recruiting into the sciences?

I hope it goes entirely to the debate team. Debate is one of the most academically rigorous things a college student can participate in and it gets horribly underfunded. I'd love to see this money go towards building a solid team. $1 million just might do it, but if you spread that money around like you suggested, it won't do squat for anyone.

Atomic Spunk mofomisfit: I don't think "he/she is well spoken" is as much of a backhanded compliment as it's portrayed to be. I mean, I don't think people said it about Colin Powell because they were surprised he could speak correctly - it's because he has a good way of putting words together. Neither of the candidates in the last election were well spoken, and I don't think Condoleeza Rice is particularly well spoken either. It's not "Oh my god a black person put together a sentence without using slang!" it's acknowledging the power of someone's rhetoric.

Nevertheless, black people are very likely to get pissed off if you say it. Much like you can call any man "boy" except for a black man. And they can call each other the "N" word, but nobody else is allowed to use the word, at all. They have a separate set of rules that they're allowed to live by and everyone else needs to abide by those rules lest they be labeled a racist.

Nevertheless, black people are very likely to get pissed off if you say it. Much like you can call any man "boy" except for a black man. And they can call each other the "N" word, but nobody else is allowed to use the word, at all. They have a separate set of rules that they're allowed to live by and everyone else needs to abide by those rules lest they be labeled a racist.

There's miles of difference between telling someone they're a good speaker and using words that you know are hurtful and charged. It's really not similar at all.

Atomic Spunk:Nevertheless, black people are very likely to get pissed off if you say it. Much like you can call any man "boy" except for a black man. And they can call each other the "N" word, but nobody else is allowed to use the word, at all. They have a separate set of rules that they're allowed to live by and everyone else needs to abide by those rules lest they be labeled a racist.

Is that really what bothers you? That you can't say n----r or call a grown man "boy" without someone taking it the wrong way? And this means that on the scoreboard of life African-Americans have some kind of unfair advantage? Damn, chico, you are one sensitive motherfarking soul. It's a good thing you're not black.

semiotix:Atomic Spunk:Nevertheless, black people are very likely to get pissed off if you say it. Much like you can call any man "boy" except for a black man. And they can call each other the "N" word, but nobody else is allowed to use the word, at all. They have a separate set of rules that they're allowed to live by and everyone else needs to abide by those rules lest they be labeled a racist.

Is that really what bothers you? That you can't say n----r or call a grown man "boy" without someone taking it the wrong way? And this means that on the scoreboard of life African-Americans have some kind of unfair advantage? Damn, chico, you are one sensitive motherfarking soul. It's a good thing you're not black.

mofomisfit:Nevertheless, black people are very likely to get pissed off if you say it. Much like you can call any man "boy" except for a black man. And they can call each other the "N" word, but nobody else is allowed to use the word, at all. They have a separate set of rules that they're allowed to live by and everyone else needs to abide by those rules lest they be labeled a racist.

There's miles of difference between telling someone they're a good speaker and using words that you know are hurtful and charged. It's really not similar at all.

The "N" word is hurtful and charged. "Boy" isn't. Other races don't get so bent out of shape over such infractions. Don Imus loses his job, while Rosie and Alphonse D'amato (who both made similar "ching chong ching" type mockeries of Asians) get a little scolding.

The reality is that black people get really bent out of shape over supposed infractions against their race, while most other races just ignore it and keep moving ahead. That's probably why Asians have surpassed everyone, including whites, in average income and education levels while black people are at the bottom of those lists.

"Boy" isn't. Other races don't get so bent out of shape over such infractions. Don Imus loses his job, while Rosie and Alphonse D'amato (who both made similar "ching chong ching" type mockeries of Asians) get a little scolding.

Oh please. You mean to tell me that if someone called you "boy" you wouldn't be upset? I can tell you that I would be PISSED if someone called me "boy" and it doesn't carry the history with me that it would if I were black.

And yes, Asian groups were mad as hell at Rosie O'Donnell and Alphonse D'Amato, and rightfully so.